Daily Football News Round-Up Wednesday 1st May

The rumour mill has been set alight today after Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho admitted he want to be where he is loved after last night’s Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund. It was the biggest hint yet that he will be returning to England and more specifically, Chelsea.

The other manager with his future up in the air is David Moyes as his contract at Everton expires at the end of the season. There have been suggestions that he will move to Germany and the Scottish manager has expressed his admiration for the Bundesliga. He admitted he is amazed by how well run the league is, with ticket prices ensuring almost every stadium is full, week in week out.

Northampton have been handed a huge injury boost ahead of their League Two play-off semi-final clash with Cheltenham. First team regulars Kelvin Langmead, Ishmel Demontagnac and Clive Platt are all expected to return after being kept out of action for the past few weeks.

Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes says the club have already agreed on a transfer policy for next season with manager Harry Redknapp. Much has been made of the number of new signings over the last two seasons but Fernandes expects the club to settle now and bring in the kind of players that will help in the long run.

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has insisted his decision to retire at the end of the season has come at the perfect time. He revealed yesterday that he will be joining the Sky Sports team as a pundit.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has insisted he has completely forgiven Luis Suarez for the biting incident last week. He revealed that he received a phone call from the Uruguayan the day after the match and accepted his apology.

Zinedine Zidane has admitted he won’t be surprised if Gareth Bale were to leave Tottenham this summer, despite the possibly astronomical fee the club can demand for the Welsh forward. “Tottenham could demand 40, 50, maybe even 60 million for him. It’s a lot of money but there are maybe three of four teams in the world that can pay that sort of transfer fee, and it won’t put them off,” he told reporters.

Spurs manager Andre Villas Boas has called for financial backing in the summer from chairman Daniel Levy. He wants the club to retain the services of Bale by signing the big name players he feels the team needs. Rumours have emerged of a club record transfer bid for Brazilian superstar Hulk, who currently plays for Russian side Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Luton Town have signed Southport duo Shaun Whalley and Andrew Parry for undisclosed fees today. The players have both signed two-year deals at the Kenilworth Road club.

Newcastle United are reportedly lining up a bid to sign Wigan Athletic midfielder James McCarthy in the summer as they aim to make next season a more successful one.

Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon will miss the rest of the season after failing in his appeal against the red card he received in Monday’s hammering at the hands of Aston Villa.